This week, Nine unveils its next Australian drama in the form of After The Verdict.
When After The Verdictbegins, we are taken into the jury room of a murder trial that is moments away from announcing a verdict. Eleven of them have made up their mind: not guilty. The sole juror not convinced that Heidi Lang (Tess Haubrich) didn’t murder her boss Belinda is jury foreperson Clara (Michelle Lim Davidson).
But with eleven against one, Clara soon changes her mind and Heidi is acquitted. But freshly divorced Clara can’t seem to let go of the idea that Heidi is guilty and she’s just helped but a killer back on the street. With her ex-husband Dom buying a new house with his girlfriend and Clara seeing visions of the deceased, she visits Belinda’s grave to seek solace, finding fellow juror Margie (Madga Szubanski) also wondering if just was truly served.
Things take a turn at a juror reunion dinner when only three others turn up: butcher Margie, who’s engaged to nurse Trish (Virginia Gay); cocky real estate agent Ollie (Lincoln Younes); and secretive school teacher Daniel (Sullivan Stapleton).
Taking matters into their own hands, the four unlikely acquaintances investigate the murder themselves, turning their own lives upside down in the process. It’s not long before they begin to question the decisions they’ve made in their problematic personal lives, on top of the decision they made in court.
Creators Ellie Beaumont and Drew Proffitt have created an intriguing premise full of complex characters, giving the entire cast a chance to flex both their dramatic and comedy chops.
After the Verdict is when the fun truly begins and it is one of the strongest drama pilots of the year.
4 Stars
After The Verdict premieres Wednesday, 10 August at 8:45pm on Nine.
